7 Phrases That May Signal Lower IQ Scores

We all occasionally say things without thinking. Researchers become interested when particular expressions recur frequently enough to reveal someone’s habitual way of thinking. When they are used repeatedly, such phrases may suggest an aversion to effort, curiosity and self-examination – characteristics often associated with lower results in conventional intelligence tests.

Language as a window into thinking

Psychologists have long maintained that the language we choose reflects how we make sense of the world. This does not mean that a single remark can “diagnose” anybody’s IQ – life circumstances, education and personality are much too complicated for that. Even so, repeated speech habits can offer clues about how a person responds to information, difficulty and subtlety.

Phrases that shut down effort, curiosity or responsibility often point to limited cognitive flexibility rather than raw stupidity.

The seven phrases that follow should not be used as a checklist for judging others. Instead, treat them as warning signs that, alongside behaviour and decisions, can suggest a limited willingness to make mental effort or develop.

1) “I’m just not a book person”

A person who proudly declares that they “hate books” is doing more than choosing Netflix instead of novels. In some cases, the statement reflects a broader reluctance to undertake sustained intellectual effort. Whether it is fiction, history or long-form journalism, reading requires concentration, imagination and critical thought.

Educational research indicates that intensive instruction can substantially improve reading ability, including for children with lower IQ scores. This implies that persistence and motivation, rather than an unchangeable ceiling, are often the issue. When an adult rejects reading altogether, they may be turning away from one of the most affordable and widely available ways to develop their mind.

“I’m not a book person” often really means “I don’t want to engage with anything that stretches me for more than five minutes.”

Of course, reading infrequently does not automatically indicate a lack of intelligence. Dyslexia, inadequate education and plain fatigue may all contribute. The concern arises when someone treats contempt for reading as a badge of honour.

2) “I can’t be bothered”

This expression often appears when an opportunity to learn arises, whether that is a training course, documentary or challenging work assignment. Constantly saying “I can’t be bothered” or “I don’t have the patience” can reveal a more fundamental reluctance to spend mental energy.

Research into academic achievement, including studies involving pupils with learning difficulties, shows that motivation, self-control and effort are as important to success as measured intelligence. Those who habitually dismiss unfamiliar challenges as “too boring” or “too much hassle” are, in effect, choosing not to pursue that development.

• Short term: less knowledge, fewer skills
• Medium term: missed promotions, limited career options
• Long term: a sense of being “stuck” while others progress

Everyone has nights when relaxing on the sofa wins over self-improvement. What matters is the recurring pattern: when “I can’t be bothered” becomes the usual response to any intellectual effort, it can point to an intellectual appetite that has stopped developing.

3) “That’s just how it is”

Said occasionally, “that’s just how it is” may simply be convenient shorthand. Repeated relentlessly, however, it stops a conversation in its tracks. It leaves no room for questions, uncertainty or opposing views. Psychologically, it may indicate low openness to experience, a quality associated with less effective creative and analytical thinking.

Inquisitive people ask “why?”. They test assumptions, weigh up competing explanations and revise their views when evidence changes. A person who regularly relies on “that’s just how it is” may find this process unsettling, or may simply have little practice with it.

When a phrase ends every debate before it begins, it often hides a fear of not having the answers.

This verbal full stop can reveal both what a person believes and how far they are prepared to examine their beliefs.

4) “I hate change”

It is entirely human to dislike change. Treating every change as intolerable on principle is different. Major studies have found that people with higher IQ scores are generally better able to adjust to unfamiliar rules, tasks and settings. In this respect, flexibility forms part of intelligence.

When somebody repeats “I hate change” in response to every new workplace system, phone update or family adjustment, they may be expressing more than a preference for familiar routines. It can indicate the following:

Phrase	Possible mindset behind it
“I hate change at work.”	Struggle to learn new procedures or tools
“I hate when plans change.”	Difficulty managing uncertainty or thinking on their feet
“Things were better before.”	Idealising the past, resisting new information

There are, again, valid exceptions. Anxiety, previous trauma and unstable circumstances can make change genuinely alarming. The key question is whether the individual makes any attempt to adapt or instead closes themselves off to every new input.

5) “I’m always right”

Those who claim they are “always right” frequently mistake certainty for being incapable of error. Psychologically, this can indicate poor critical thinking and insecure self-esteem. Recognising a mistake takes mental work because it requires someone to reconsider their reasoning and revise their beliefs.

Research on intelligence and personality suggests that more open, reflective individuals often do better at complex problem-solving. They see mistakes as useful feedback rather than as humiliation. Conversely, someone firmly attached to “I’m always right” cuts off the central route through which intelligence develops: learning from errors.

The smartest people in the room tend to ask the most questions, not shout the loudest certainties.

This expression can also damage relationships. It signals to other people that discussion has no value, cutting the speaker off from perspectives and information that might expose their blind spots.

6) “I don’t need any help”

The issue is not healthy self-reliance. Trouble begins when “I don’t need help” becomes an inflexible principle, even where someone is plainly finding things difficult. Rejecting support can conceal low emotional intelligence, including an inability to recognise one’s own feelings and limitations.

Studies of students seeking help reveal a consistent pattern: those with stronger emotional awareness are more likely to request support at an appropriate moment, and they usually achieve more. They regard assistance as a useful resource rather than a threat to their pride.

By comparison, a person who sees accepting help as weakness often:

• Repeats the same mistakes instead of learning faster
• Feels secretly overwhelmed while pretending everything is fine
• Misses chances to benefit from others’ expertise

In time, this approach may harm both wellbeing and performance, regardless of their raw IQ.

7) “It’s all their fault”

Blaming others offers a powerful shortcut. Claiming “it’s entirely their fault” saves someone from examining their own behaviour. Yet the capacity for self-reflection is a foundation of both emotional and general intelligence.

Psychologists who examine emotional competence define self-awareness as the ability to recognise your own contribution to a situation. People who repeatedly place blame outside themselves seldom undertake this examination. They are stuck in traffic because “everyone else is an idiot”, lose work because “every boss is toxic”, or fail exams because “teachers are out to get me”.

When everything is always someone else’s fault, nothing can change – including your thinking.

This outlook prevents people from learning through failure. It also undermines trust, as friends and colleagues soon realise that any issue involving this person will eventually be blamed on them.

How much can phrases really tell us?

No individual sentence demonstrates that somebody has a low IQ. Language is untidy, and people speak from stress, tiredness, humour or habit. A highly intelligent person may say “I can’t be bothered” after an exhausting week while remaining highly curious at other times.

Psychologists instead consider repetition and context. If several of these expressions recur, particularly when someone is offered a chance to learn or adapt, they can begin to resemble a settled mindset rather than casual remarks.

Seeing the mindset beneath the words

Readers considering their own language may find it helpful to try a brief thought experiment. Picture two colleagues who are both offered the same difficult project at work:

Person A says, “I hate change, I can’t be bothered with new systems, and if this fails it’ll be the manager’s fault.” Person B says, “I’m not sure I’m ready, but I’ll read up, ask for help where needed, and see what I can learn.”

The contrast involves more than optimism. Person B displays qualities that research repeatedly associates with stronger cognitive functioning: curiosity, adaptability, readiness to seek support and a degree of comfort with being wrong.

Shifting away from limiting phrases

Substituting more constructive wording for these seven phrases can steer thought in a healthier direction. For instance:

• Swap “I’m not a book person” for “I struggle with long texts, but I’ll try shorter pieces or audiobooks.”
• Swap “I can’t be bothered” for “I’m tired now; I’ll schedule an hour for this tomorrow.”
• Swap “I’m always right” for “Here’s how I see it – what am I missing?”

Such small changes in language encourage the mind to remain receptive, apply effort and accept shared responsibility. Over time, that outlook contributes far more to practical intelligence than any score on an IQ test.